SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement after the passage of the 2017-18 state budget:

“This budget is an improvement compared to what was delivered to us earlier this year. But it must be noted that Sacramento Democrats just passed a budget that is the biggest in the state’s history.

“Sadly, it also continues a trail of broken promises and bait-and-switch maneuvers exploiting the initiative process. Californians deserve honesty. Voters approved the tobacco tax initiative last year because they were told those tax dollars would go to help address the shortage of doctors and dentists serving disadvantaged Californians. This budget fails to dedicate all of those tobacco tax dollars for health care. It also ignores a school bond initiative voters approved which would have gone to building and modernizing classrooms for our students and teachers.

“As a former social worker, I witnessed the devastating effects our vulnerable communities endured when they lack proper health care and education opportunities. I’m saddened to see the continuation of broken promises and bait-and-switch maneuvers in this budget which perpetuate mistrust in government. I voted against the budget because all Californians deserve better.”